The Current Statistics

Hi my name is Jason Brownlie,UK based Personal Fitness Trainer. Welcome to the Healthy Living section of my website, it gives me pleasure to offer fitness training and nutritional health management tips and advice.

Lets start with the statistics, the (NHS) released a publication reporting the following information

• In 2007, 24% of adults (aged 16 or over) in England were classified as obese (BMI 30 or over); an overall increase from 15% in 1993.
• Men and women were equally likely to be obese, however men were more likely than women (41% compared to 32%) to be overweight (BMI 25).
• In 2007, 17% of boys aged 2 to 15, and 16% of girls were classed as obese, an increase from 11% and 12% respectively in 1995. Indications suggest that the trend in obesity may be flattening out and the next couple of years data will be important in confirming whether this is a continuing pattern.
• Boys were slightly more likely to be overweight or obese (31% compared to 30%).

By 2015 the foresight estimates that 36% of males and 28% of females (aged between 21 and 60) will be obese. By 2025 it is estimated that 47% and 36% of men and women respectively will be obese.

Up until May 2009 a Scottish health survey found that in 2003 almost two-thirds of men (64%) and more than half of women were overweight (including obese). This represents an increase from 1995 when the figures were 57% for men and 47% for women. The increase was greater amongst those who were obese (including morbidly obese) where the percentage for men increased from 16% to 22% between 1995 and 2003 and from 17% to 24% for women.

Obesity can reduce people's overall quality of life. It creates a strain on health services and leads to premature death due to its association with serious chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidaemia, which are all major risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The two major lifestyle factors associated with the growth of obesity are physical activity and poor diet.

Body Mass Index is the most commonly accepted measure of general obesity. BMI is calculated by dividing weight (measured in kilograms) by height squared (measured in metres). Adults are xlassified as overweight if their BMI is 25 or more, obese if their BMI is 30 or more and morbidly obese if their BMI is 40 or more.

Fitness Training ideas and Nutrition advice coming soon